Kerry council votes to retain property tax rates

A majority of councillors in Kerry have voted to retain property tax rates at current levels, and not to adjust the basic rates, after being told there is no point in any modest increase.

Councils can vary the basic rate of local property tax (LPT) to a maximum of 15% increase. However, any modest increase would lead to a cut in the amount of money the council gets from central funding, councillors on Kerry County Council were advised yesterday at a meeting to decide on budget strategy for 2016 and to set the LPT adjustment rate.

The council’s chief executive, Moira Murrell, told councillors: “Were members to increase the LPT by 1%, the net effect is we’d lose from central funding. There is no benefit to this council from an increase of up to 4%. Anything up to the value of €500,000 would not be in the interest of Kerry County Council.”